By Stacy Whitman Watching your baby get a vaccine can be as painful as opening up a credit card bill. But vaccines for babies save thousands of lives each year, and making sure your child gets them on schedule is important to ensuring that he is fully protected.

Why Vaccines for Babies are Important

The recommended vaccines for babies and children (up to 26 total by age 6) protect against 14 potentially deadly diseases—including measles, bacterial meningitis and whooping cough, explain Stacy Mintzer Herlihy and E. Allison Hagood in their new book, Your Baby’s Best Shot: Why Vaccines Are Safe and Save Lives (Rowman & Littlefield, 2012). Some parents choose to delay, space out or skip vaccines for babies out of fear of unfounded health repercussions such as autism and ADHD. But after exhaustive research, Herlihy and Hagood—along with the American Academy of Pediatrics—conclude that vaccinations are the best choice for babies, communities and future generations.